I’d like to propose a toast… to toasting.
I spent a good chunk of time living in Ireland while traveling abroad and my pub-hopping proved Irish toasts are among the best in the world. After all, the official animal of Ireland is that Toucan balancing a Guinness on its nose. Inspired by the poetry, humility and humor of these lovely pub prayers and in honor of Saint Patrick and the general notion that every day is worth living for something, I decided to share a few of my classic favorites that I learned in Ireland, along with a few soon-to-be-classic originals. See if you can decipher the generations of wisdom. And yes, I threw in a limerick. You’re welcome.
- “May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.”
- “May you know the difference between a deal and a scam and may your Groupons never expire before redemption.”
- “May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.”
- “To lifting your spirits with spirits instead of lifting weights with your hands.”
- “Health to the men, and may the women live forever!”
- “Today, we are all Irish. Tomorrow, we all have headaches.”
- “To finding yourself unemployed / and broke but yet still overjoyed / with the fact that you’re free / to do what you please / except retail, which you will avoid.”
- “Here’s to the land of the shamrock so green / Here’s to each lad and his darlin’ Colleen / Here’s to the ones we love dearest and most / May God bless old Ireland, that’s this Irishman’s toast!”
- “May you have as much flexibility in your life as you do in your hair things.”
- “For your family, good health / for your friends, good cheer / for you, good luck / and your bagel, good schmear.”
- “Here’s to the nights we felt alive / Here’s to the tears you knew you’d cry / Here’s to goodbye / Tomorrow’s gonna come too soon.”
Okay, that last one is Eve6.
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day and sláinte to all! Drink responsibly and toast generously!
Another traditional Irish one that makes me laugh – may you be in heaven half an hour bef
ore the devil knows you’re dead!
I was just in Mexico and we did, “Arriba, abajo, al centro… por al dentro.” (Up, down, in the middle, inside.) <3